Early Christianity and Heresies: A Historical Overview

2. 33-4AD: Pentecost “It was the inauguration of the Church by the Spirit of God.” - Metzger 34AD: Stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:57 & 8:1) Clearly differentiated between Judaism and Christianity. “Stephen represents a Christianity that was beginning to see its wider purpose, and that it must either absorb Judaism or break away from it.” -Metzger

3. Early Christian Services: Jewish: 1. Synagogue Service of Prayer -sh’ma esrai -entrance of Torah -readings of Mosaic law -readings of Prophets -readings of Psalms -sermon (midrash) -18 benedictions -final blessing 2. Meal of Fellowship -Berakoth prayer -passing of blessed bread -passing of blessed cup Christian: Liturgy of the Word - great litany -antiphons -little entrance -reading of the epistle -reading of the gospel -sermon (homily) -litany for catechumens Liturgy of the Faithful -litany for the faithful -cherubic hymn -great entrance -”the doors, the doors” -creed -anaphora -Lord’s prayer -communion -final blessing

4. Early Heresies: ~40AD: Simony, the first heresy: - Simon Magus of Gitta, a magician - “father of all heresies” - opposed by Simon Peter (Acts 8:9-13, 20-24), and later by Hippolytus, Justin & Irenaeus ~50 AD: Gnosticism: - supported later by Tertullian - opposed by Church, Ignatius & Irenaeus - believers posses higher, secret insight - OT & Judaism are rejected - world created by an imperfect god - Christ’s body is an illusion

6. 51AD: Emperor Claudius expels all Jews from Rome. 54AD: Nero. Open conflict in Jerusalem at Passover. 62AD: Bishop James the Righteous martyred.

7. 62AD: Martyrdom of James the Just, Brother of Christ and Bishop of Jerusalem (Eusebius quoting Clement I) “Because of his exceeding great justice he was called the Just, and Oblias, which signifies in Greek, ‘Bulwark of the people’ and ‘Justice’, in accordance with what the prophets declare concerning him. Now some of the seven sects, which existed among the people and which have been mentioned by me in the Memoirs, asked him, ‘What is the gate of Jesus?’ and he replied that he was the Saviour. On account of these words some believed that Jesus is the Christ. But the sects mentioned above did not believe either in a resurrection or in one’s coming to give to every man according to his works. But as many as believed did so on account of James. Therefore when many even of the rulers believed, there was a commotion among the Jews and Scribes and Pharisees, who said that there was danger that the whole people would be looking for Jesus as the Christ. Coming therefore in a body to James they said, ‘We entreat thee, restrain the people; for they are gone astray in regard to Jesus, as if he were the Christ. We entreat thee to persuade all who have come to the feast of the Passover concerning Jesus; for we all have confidence in thee. For we bear thee witness, as do all the people, that thou art just, and dost not respect persons. Do thou therefore persuade the multitude not to be led astray concerning Jesus. For the whole people, and all of us also, have confidence in thee. Stand therefore upon the pinnacle of the temple, that from that high position thou mayest be clearly seen, and that thy words may be readily heard by all the people. For all the tribes, with the Gentiles also, are come together on account of the Passover.

8. 62AD: Martyrdom of James the Just, Brother of Christ and Bishop of Jerusalem (Eusebius quoting Clement I) The aforesaid Scribes and Pharisees therefore placed James upon the pinnacle of the temple, and cried out to him and said: ‘Thou just one, in whom we ought all to have confidence, forasmuch as the people are led astray after Jesus, the crucified one, declare to us, what is the gate of Jesus?’ And he asnwered with a loud voice, ‘Why do ye ask me concerning Jesus, the Son of Man? He himself sitteth in heaven at the right hand of the great Power, and is about to come upon the clouds of heaven.’ And when many were convinced and glorified in the testimony of James, and said, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’, the same Scribes and Pharisees said to one another, ‘We have done badly in supplying such testimony to Jesus. But let us go up and throw him down, in order that they may be afraid to believe him.’ And they cried out, saying, ‘Oh! Oh! The just man is also in error.’ And they fulfilled the Scripture written in Isaiah, ‘Let us take away the just man, because he is troublesome to us; therefore they shall eat the fruit of their doings.’ So they went up and threw down the just man, and said to each other, ‘Let us stone James the Just.’ And they began to stone him, for he was not killed by the fall; but he turned and knelt down and said, ‘I entreat thee, Lord God our Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And while they were stoning him one of the priests of the sons of Rechab, the son of the Rechabites, who are mentioned by Jeremiah the prophet, cried out, saying, ‘Cease, what do ye? The just one prayeth for you’.

9. 62AD: Martyrdom of James the Just, Brother of Christ and Bishop of Jerusalem (Eusebius quoting Clement I) And one of them, who was a fuller, took the club with which he beat out clothes and struck the just man on the head. And thus he suffered martyrdom. And they buried him on the spot, by the temple, and his monument still remains by the temple. He became a true witness, both to Jews and Greeks, that Jesus is the Christ.”

10. 64AD: June 18, Rome burns; Nero blames Christians. 66AD: Caesarea - Greeks attack Jews; Jerusalem - Jews attack Roman garrison. 68AD: General Vespasian heads for Jerusalem 70AD: Siege of Jerusalem under Titus. [Readings]

11. The Heresy of Ebionism - Arose in Jerusalem at the time of its destruction - Believed Jesus was the messiah, but not divine - Ascribed to Mosaic law - Revered James the Just; rejected Paul - Hebrew word means “poor ones” - Preached against by Tertullian, Irenaeus, others